AMONG THE GOLD COAST COCOA FARMS 41 

 CHAPTER VIII 



AMONG THE GOLD COAST COCOA FARMS 



WE have come about five miles along the cross-country 

 road to Asuboi. Onwards from the outskirts of 

 Nsawam there have been cocoa trees to right of us and 

 cocoa trees to left of us, and still we are running past 

 cocoa trees, but never a sign can we see of anyone at 

 work among them, or any trace of a path that might 

 lead to a habitation. 



Naturally, you are anxious to get a closer view of 

 cocoa trees, so we will leave the car and strike off 

 haphazard into their midst. 



It is rough walking among the thick tangle of leaves, 

 which look as if they were evenly spread carpet- 

 fashion over level ground, but which in reality hide 

 a series of treacherous hummocks and hollows. But 

 how good it is to be in the shade . . . and no wonder 

 you are enchanted by the beauty of our surroundings. 

 Alone, amongst this boundless stretch of cocoa trees 

 laden with ripe fruit-pods, do you not feel as if you 

 had been wafted into some magic grove hung with 

 golden lanterns ? 



How came it to pass that these trees are growing 

 here ? . . . Who planted them ? . . . Who looks 

 after them ? . . . Is anyone going to gather the 

 myriads of pods that look quite ready to be har- 

 vested ? . . . 



I know there are endless questions you are burning 

 to ask me, and all in good time I hope to answer them 

 for you. But as far as possible, in the time at our 

 disposal, I want to show you the answers to your 

 questions, and as the farmers, who are all their own 



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